COBB

US, 1994, 128 minutes, Colour.
Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Wuhl, Lolita Davidovich, Ned Bellamy.
Directed by Ron Shelton.

Cobb is a biography of celebrated baseball player, Ty Cobb. Cobb was a champion in his time with records that still have not been broken. However, he had a reputation of being a mean, humourless and bigoted man. The film actually shows that this is basically true.

The film has the device of Al Stump (who wrote the biography of Cobb as well as some articles) coming to Cobb to arrange for interviews for the biography. As Stump learns more and more from Cobb, and is treated in the same way as everyone else, he finally decides to write two books, one about his career for Cobb himself, the other, noted on scraps of paper, the truth about Cobb and his personality.

While there are some baseball scenes, the film is not so much about the sport as about the players and their characters.

Tommy Lee Jones gives a very powerful performance as Cobb, a southerner, unlikeable, talented, brutal, misogynistic. There is a scene where he attacks a crippled fan – which, apparently, happened in real life. Robert Wuhl, a comedian, steps back somewhat from developing a strong personality as Al Stump, leaving the way open for Cobb to dominate.

The film was written and directed by Ron Shelton who had a reputation for writing and directing films about various sports. His directing films include basketball with White Men Can’t Jump, baseball with Bull Durham, golf with The Tin Cup, wrestling with Play it to the Bone. He also directed the police and detective stories, Dark Blue and Hollywood Homicide.

Lolita Davidovich, Shelton’s wife, also has a guest appearance. He directed her with Paul Newman in the 1989 Blaze.

1. The impact of the film? For American audiences? For those who knew about Ty Cobb? For worldwide audiences, not familiar with baseball or the man himself?

2. The mystique of baseball in the United States, its history, atmosphere? The popular sport? The sporting heroes? Knowledge of the game? Writers about the game?

3. The work of Ron Shelton, his writing, directing, perceptions on sport?

4. Ty Cobb and his legend, how much true, how much myth? As an idol in his time? His aggressive nature, clowning, his influence on the game, the interaction with rivals, his records? His place in the Hall of Fame, Coopertown?

5. The real Cobb, Al Stump and his research, the decision to write two different books? Cobb as a prince or a monster? The issue to publish or not?

6. The opening of the film, the information about the legend? His harsh attitudes – and what Cobb saw?

7. The structure of the film: the introduction, Al Stump and 1960, the commission, the trip to the Hall of Fame, the flashbacks, the blend of reality and lies?

8. Cobb as a child, his harsh childhood, his parents, the mayor? The Baptist background? His skills and capitalising on these? The confrontation, the train, no fear? The games, support, his fights? The six matches? The death of his father and its impact? The anti-psychology? The visualising of his brutality? His boast, children?

9. 1960, Cobb as a monster, the black writer, the accountant, the shooting, the deer? Stump and the bullying? The contract, the gun? ‘Prince’? Dictation, Cobb’s conditions, the contract? The driving, the black man, reckless, the crash?

10. Stump and his journalistic background, his attitudes, the touch of laziness, his call, the hopes? His return to writing – and the application of ‘print the legend’?

11. Reno and the snow, the ride, Cobb’s behaviour? Booking in, ill, dying? The club and the song? The dance, the sexual encounter, the money? Cobb and his brutality, reputation and gambling?

12. The incident with Ramona, the desk, cigarettes, dancing, the wig? Talking with Stump? Cobb and the thousand dollars?

13. The journey, Stump and his presence, the alternate vision, the alternates to the legend? Coopertown, the cheering? Shaking hands? The speech, the film, Cochrane and the tuxedo? Not going in to the game? The angers?

14. Stump and the issue of truth and lies, playing the game, drinking, the tone at the meeting in the Hall of Fame?

15. The visit to Georgia, Cobb’s daughter, the lies, the discovery of the manuscript? Going to the hospital, the gun? The doctors?

16. The impact of the quiet death?

17. The issue of needing celebrities to be heroes – why? Authors and their tributes? Insights?